Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 2nd March 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Mar 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A slow-moving front brings rain, drizzle and low cloud to England and Wales, also eastern Scotland at first. To the east of this, strong to gale-force winds at first east. Lighter winds for much of the Highlands all day, cloud lifting with sunny spells. Later in day, rain and hill snow moves in from west.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Fairly light wind. Patchy rain soon fades, cloud lifts.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South turning southwesterly; 50mph prior to dawn but easing rapidly by sunrise. Much of daytime around 20mph, less on some slopes. Turning westerly after dark.
Effect of the wind on you?
Soon fairly small, occasionally blustery in places on higher terrain, feeling chilly.
How Wet?
Early rain fading
A band of rain early in day, patchy in north, soon breaking up and clearing eastward to leave dry conditions. After dark, some snow showers above 800m move onto westernmost hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting and clearing
Covering many higher areas from dawn, lowest southern Cairngorms NP. Soon lifting and increasingly all breaking up.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy start, sunshine increasingly breaking through, soonest in north. Visibility becoming excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, dropping later toward 0C. If exposed to wind, feeling like -5C.
Freezing Level
Above summits from overnight into morning, likely to lower during day, toward 1000m afternoon, 800m after dark.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 3rd March 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Mar 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction 10-15mph or less. At first northwesterly 15-20mph northern areas.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Precipitation not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Rare if any fragments of cloud, or mist lower down at first, all clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Generally sunny. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C rising to +2C.
Freezing Level
800m plus frost in most glens and sheltered lower slopes from dawn, rising to 1100-1200m afternoon.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Last updated
Sun 1st Mar 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 25 to 40mph, strongest over higher Cairngorms and very gusty in places including downslope toward north.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery over higher terrain, affecting comfortable walking in exposure. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Precipitation unlikely
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly southern areas
Cloud banks drifting over some southern slopes above 800-900m, may persist for several hours at least. Much less cloud northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% south, to 70% north.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine most common toward the north of the Cairngorms where visibility very good; hazier southwards.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, locally rising a degree or so higher northern Cairngorms. Directly in the wind feeling like -10C.
Freezing Level
Patchy frost in glens and sheltered higher areas from dawn, staying close to freezing some slopes above 1200m.
Planning Outlook
Varying conditions over the next couple of weeks as areas of high pressure build across the British Isles then slip eastwards. Some dry and bright days with light winds mixed with periods of strengthening southerly winds bringing occasional rain coming in from the west - Thursday this week sees rain move increasingly onto western hills. Temperatures will vary, often lifting just above freezing to higher tops, but occasionally dropping back below freezing - chillier air briefly later this week. Some frosts into valleys. Remaining old snow cover on Scottish mountains stays largely consolidated with little change, patchy around highest tops in England and Wales.